Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that a superseding indictment has been returned against Justin Alan Seymour, a 37-year-old from Tennessee. Seymour faces charges of Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Previously, the same grand jury indicted Seymour for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison for the robbery charge, life imprisonment for the first firearm offense, and up to 15 years for the second firearm offense.

Court documents reveal that on October 21, 2024, Seymour committed an armed robbery at a pizza shop on Fowler Avenue in Tampa. Two days later, law enforcement officers stopped Seymour's vehicle and found him with a firearm in his waistband. Due to his prior felony conviction for attempted robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition.

It is important to note that an indictment is only a formal accusation and does not imply guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman will prosecute the case while Assistant United States Attorney James Muench handles forfeiture proceedings.

This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, this program was reinforced by the Department's strategy focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.